Machine for attaching strings to envelops



v C. F. PFLANZE.

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING STRINGS T0 ENVELOPS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1937. W 1,340,969. Pa ented May 25, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l-- frl C. F. PFLANZE.

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING STRINGS TO ENVE'LOPS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1911 Patented May 25, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. F. PFLANZE. MACHINE FOR ATTACHING STRINGS T0 ENVELOPS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1917.

1,340,909. a nted May 25, 1920.

A 4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

c. F. PFLANZE. MACHINE FOR ATTACHING STRINGS T0 ENVEIQOPS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1917- Patented May 25, 1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

5: ir t 7M2? PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. PFLANZE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING STRINGS T0 ENVELQPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

Application filed June 18, 1917. Serial No. 17 5349.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. PFLANz n, a citizen of the I nited States of America, a resident of the city of St. Louis, State of hlissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for .Attaching Strings to Envelops, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part .of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for attaching string to envelops, and the like. The main object of the invention is to produce a machine of this kind having a simple and highly etiicient means for pulling and severing a continuous string, thereby dividing the string into a number of short sections. each of which is attached to an envelop or the like. Briefly stated, the invention comprises a combination of devices coiiperating with each other to pull tring from a source of supply, to attach the string to an envelop. and to sever the string near the point at which it is attached. These operations are carried on continually with the. result of dividing a long string into short sections and securing each section to an envelop. The envelops are preferably handled by the operator, but all of the other operations may be performed by the combination of devices in the machine.

In the p referred form of the invention, the continuous string passes through a row or pile of perforated washers, and a feeding device is utilized to deliver the washers, one at a time, from an end of the row to a riveting device. A hollow rivet or eyelet is acted upon by the riveting device to secure said eyelet and the washer to an envelop. This operation is performed while a portion of the continuous string is in the washer, and as a consequence the'string is securely attached to the envelop. The string is then severed near the point of attachment, and another portion of the string is positively pulled from the source of supply. These operations are performed repeatedly.

With the foregoing anl other objects in view the invention comprises the novel construction, combination and arrangement 0% parts hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the ac ompanying drawings wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the ivention; however, it is to be understood that the invention comprehends changes, variations and modifications which come wlthin the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Figure I is a front elevation of a portion of the machine constructed in accordance with my invention. 77

Fig. II is a detail view, partly in section, showing the oscillatory gripping and cutting device. 1

Fig. III is an inverted parts shownin Fig. II.

Fig. IV is a plan view of the parts at the lefthand end of Fig. II.

Fig. V is a side elevation of the means for transmitting power to the gripping and cutting devices, the frame of the machine being shown by dotted lines. I

Fig. VI is a plan view of the gripping and cutting elements. V

Fig. VII is a view similar to Fig. VI showing the gripping and cutting elements in different positions.

Fig. VIII is a fragmentary view showing the riveting device and the means for supplying eyelets, string and washers thereto.

Fig. IX is a View similar to Fig. VIII, showing the parts in different positions and also showing the gripping and cutting devices.

Fig. X is a detail view of an envelop having a string attached to its closure flap.

A designates a main supporting frame mounted upon a vertical column B. The means for securing the string to the envelops preferably comprises a riveting device including a vertically movable plunger 1 adapted to reciprocate/in the frame A, a yieldable pin 2 extending downwardly from said plunger 1, a compression spring 3 arranged within the plunger and tending to force the pin 2 downwardly from the lower end of the plunger, as shown in Figs. I and VIII, and a stationary pin 4 alined with the pin 2, said stationary pin being fixed to a small stationary table 5. 6 designates a chute for conducting hollow rivets or eyelets E to the pin 2. I do not deem it necessary to show or describe the elements within the chute 6, for they do not form part of this invention, and they may be constructed in any suitable manner. The chute 6 can also be moved out of the path of the plunger 1, as shown in Fig. IX.

The means for supplying perforated disks or washers W to the pin 2 comprises a magazine 7 containing a row or pile of the perfoplan view of the rated washers, a long tube 8 extending through the perforations inthe washers,

and an ejector plate 9 forming a seat for the lowest washer in the magazine. This ejector plate forms a. closure for the bottom of the magazine, and it may be reciprocated to deliver the washers, one by one, from the magazine to the pin 2. When the ejector plate 9 occupies the position shown in Fig. IX, the lowest washer in the magazine rests upon the reduced end portion of said plate, and a shoulder 10 on said plate lies adjacent to the edge of the washer. If the ejector plate 9 is moved from the position shown in Fig. IX to the position in Fig. VIII, a washer IV will be taken from the magazine and delivered to the riveting device. The ejector plate 9 has a slot 11 so that it can be withdrawn from" the position shown in Fig. VIII while the pin 2 is located in said slot.

No invention is herein claimed for the details of construction so far described; however, they constitute a riveting device well adapted for use in combination with the string-cutting and string-pulling devices hereinafter described.

Any suitable operating means may be utilized to shift the ejector plate 9 to the position shown in Fig. VIII, while the pip 2 is in a position higher than the ejector I plate. An eyelet E -is then delivered to the v the attache .position shown in Fig. VIII, and the at a point near the plunger 1 moves downwardly to insert the pin 2 through the perforations in the eyelet and washer. The ejector plate 9 is then withdrawn to the position shown in Fig. IX, and the plunger 1 continues its downward movement to upset, or flange, the eyelet as seen in Fig. IX. The eyelet and washer are thus firmly secured During the upsetting or riveting operation, the spring pressed pin 2 lies entirely within the plunger 1, and the bottom face of said plunger engages the eyelet E to firmly force the lower edge of the eyelet onto the table 5, thereby forming a flange at said lower edge.

S designates a long, continuous string or cord, extending through the tube 8 at the center of the magazine 7 containing the washers W. This string extends entirely throu h all of the washers, as shown in Figs. T, VIII and WVhen the parts occupy the positions shown in Fig. VIII, the lower portion of the string S extends downwardly from the perforation in the washer W on the outer end of the ejector plate 9. After the eyelet E and washer W have been secured to the envelop, as shown in Fig. IX, the string Sis firmly attached between the eyelet and washer, also between the washer and the fla F of the envelop. Thereafter 8 portion of the string is severed eyelet, and a pulling destring preferably to the-flap F of an envelop.

vice is actuated to positively pull an additional supply of string through the washers in the magazine 7.

The means for severing and pulling the comprises an oscillatory arm 12 fixed to a vertical rock shaft 13, the latter being mounted in a stationary supporting arm 14; a blade 15 rigidly secured to the free end of the oscillatory arm 12, and a string gripping device carried by said arm 12. While the washer, eyelet and string are secured to the riveting device (Fig. IX the arm 12 is actuated to grip the string between the envelop and the source of supply, as will'be presently described, and the blade-15 carried by said arm 12 severs the string at a point near the flap of the envelop.

The string gripping device comprises a gripping element 16 fixed to the arm 12, a gripping element 17 in the form of a bell crank lever pivoted at 18 to said arm 12, and a bar 19 pivoted to the short arm of the gripping element 17. The bar 19 is loosely secured to the through a slot to the arm 12.

A spring 22, for closing the gripping device, is secured at one end to the oscillatory arm 12 and secured at the opposite end to a pin 23 extending downwardly from the bar 19. This pin 23 is fixed to'the bar 19 and it passes through a slot in the arm 12. The spring 22 tends to retain the grip ing device in its closed condition, shown in igs. II, III, IV an d VII. The means for opening the grip mg device comprises a stationary cam 24 arranged to cooperate with the roller 25 at one end of the bar 19. The cam 24 is adj ustably 14' by means of a set 21 in said bar 1 9 and secured secured to the bearing screw 26. During the operation of severing the string, the latter 1s gripped by the gripping device, as shown in Fig. VII, and the blade 15 contacts with the string at a point between the gripping elements and the washer IV. The oscillatory arm 12 then moves to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. VII, for the purpose of pulling an additional supply of string from the washer magazine.

The means for oscillating the arm 12 comprises an arm 27 (Figs. I and V) fixed to the shaft13, a long link 28 connecting said arm 27 to a lever 29, and a rotary cam 30 for actuating said lever.

Immediately before the arm .12 reaches the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. VII, the roller 25 on bar 19 engages the stationary cam 24 so as to impart a longitudinal movement to the bar 19, thereby opening the gripping device and releasing the string. The gripping device is then held in its open position by means of a spring actuated latch dog 31 which cooperates with arm 12 by a pin 20 passing 1 a lug 32 on the bar 19. The latch dog 31 is element 16, moving in the direction indi cated by the arrow in Fig. VI. are forced past the string S while the latter held by the riveting device. The string is thus located between the open gripping elements.

T he latch dog 31 (Fig. VI) engages a stationary lug 33 depending from a stationary arm 34, and this releases the latch dog from the lug 32 on bar 19. The lug 32 then temporarily engages the stationary lug 33' to retain the gripping device in its open position. However, when the oscillatory arm 12 reaches the extreme position shown by full lines in Fig. VII, the lug 32 onbar 19 passes from the stationary lug 33, thereby permitting the spring 22 to close the gripping device on the string. The oscillatory arm 12 then moves from the position shown by full lines in Fig. .VII to the position shown by dotted lines, with the result of severing the string, and then pulling the gripped portion of the string away from the riveting device and away from the delivery end of the washer magazine, so as to pull an additional length of string from the lower portion of the washer magazine. The string pulling operation ceases when the gripping device is opened through the medium of the stationary cam 24. The length of the'string sections to be severed from the long, continuous string may be varied by adjusting the stationary cam 24, the latter being secured by the set screw 26.

It will be observed that the string is pos1-' tively severed and pulled from the washer magazine, leaving a free portion of the string hanging from the bottom washer in the magazine. This tree portion is afterward attached, with the washer, to the envelop, and the cycle of operations can be repeated an indefinite number of times.

I claim: r

1. In a machine for attaching string to cnvelops, the combination of washer applying means whereby the string is secured to the envelope, a st'ring pulling device whereby a portion of the string is pulled through the washer before the latter is applied to an envelop, and automatic severing means for severing the string after it is secured to the envelop, said automatic severing means being arranged to operate between said string pulling device and the washer applying means, so as to sever the end portion of the string beyond said pulling device.

2. In amachine for attaching string to envelope, the combination of washer applying means whereby the string is secured to the envelope, a string pulling device whereby a portion of the string is pulled from a source of supply to points beyond the washer before the latter is secured to an envelop, said stringpulling device being located beyond the washer so as to positively pull said portion of the string away from the washer, and automatic severing means for severing said portion of the string from the source of supply, said automatic sever-.

ing means being arranged to operate between said string pulling device and the washer applying means, so as to sever the end portion of the string beyond said pulling device.

3. In a machine for attaching string to envelope, the combination of a washer holding device adapted to hold a row of perforated washers," washer applying means for securing the string and washersto envelops, means for feeding the washers from the delivery end of said row to the washer applying means. an intermittent string pulling device for pulling the string through the row of perforated washers, means for actuating said intermittent string pulling device to positively pull the string away from the delivery end of said row, and severing means whereby the string is severed after each pulling operation. said severing means and string pulling device being arranged to operate in the path of the string at points between said washer holding device and the washer applying means.

4. In a machine for attaching stringto envelope, the combination of means forattaching an eyelet and a washer .to an envelop, said means comprising a riveting device whereby the string is secured with the eyelet and washer, an intermittent severing device for severing portions of the string from the source. of supply, and an intermittent string pulling device whereby string is between the intermittent string pulling device and the riveting device. and said intermittent string pulling device including string pulling means located beyond the riveting device so as to act directly upon the tree portion of the string supply after each severing operation.

5. In a machine for attaching string to envelops, the combination of means for attaching an eyelet and aewasher to an envelop, said means comprising a riveting device whereby the string is secured with the eyelet and washer, a severing device for severing portions of the string from the source of supply. said severing device being arranged to operate between the riveting device and said source of supply, and an intermittent string pulling device whereby string'ispositively pulled from the source .the secured end of the of supply after each riveting operation, said intermittent string pulling device including a movable gripper provided with gripping elements whereby the string is gripped, and means for nioring said gripper a 'ay from severed portion of the string to pull another portion of the string from the source of supply.

6. In a machine for attaching string to envelops, the combination of washer applying means whereby the string is secured to the envelops, a severing device for severing portions of the string from the source of supply, said severing device being arranged to operate in the path of the string at a point between said source of supply and .the washer applying means, and an intermittent string pulling device whereby a portion of the string is pulled through the washer before the latter is secured to an envelop, said intermittent string pulling device including a movable gripper carrier provided with gripping elements whereby the string is gripped and secured to said gripper carrier, and means for moving said gripper carrier away from the secured end of the severed portion of the string so as to pull another portion of the string of supply.

7. In a machine for attaching string to envelops, the combination of washer applying means whereby portions of the string are secured to the envelope, a severing de .vice for severing said portions of the string from a source of supply, and an intermittent string pulling device whereby string is pulled from the source of supply after each washer applying operation, said intermittent string pulling device including a movable gripper provided with gripping elements. the path of said movable gripper being intersected by the path of the string at a point between said source of supply and the washer applying means, means for closing said gripping elements at a predetermined point to grip the string, and means for'opening said grippingelements at another predetermined point to release the string, thus predetermining the length of the string to be severed.

8. In a machine for attaching string to envelops, the combination of washer applying means whereby portions of the string are secured to the envelops, a severing de vice for severing said portions oi the string from a source of supply, and an intermittent string pulling device whereby string is pulled from the source of supply after each washer applying operation, said intermittent string pulling device including'an oscillatory arm, gripping elements carried .by said oscillatory arm, means for moving said -hitory arm to locate the gripping elens at opposite sides of the string, means cl r... said gripping elements to grip from the source the string, means for moving said arm and the closed gripping elements away from the secured end of the severed portion of the string so as to pull another portion of the string from the source of supply, and

means for opening the gripping elements at a predetermined point to release the string, thus predetermining the length of string to be severed.

9. In a machine for attaching string to envelops, the combination of washer applying means whereby portions of the string are secured to the envelops, a severing device for severing sa d portions of the string from a source of supply, and an mtermittent string pulling device whereby envelops, the combination of washer applying means whereby portions of a continuous string are secured to the envelops, a severing device for severing'said portions of the string from a source of supply, an

intermittent string pulling device whereby a portion of the string is pulled from the source of supply after each washer applying operation, said severing device being located between said intermittent string'fpulland means for string pulling device to predetermine the length of said portions of the string.

11. In a machine for attaching string to envelope, the combination of washer applying means whereby portions of a continuous string are secured to the envelope, severing device for severing said portions of the string from a source of supply, an intermittentstring pulling device whereby a portion of the string is pulled from the source of supply after each washer applying operation, said intermittent string pulling device comprising a movable gripper, a spring for closing said gripper to grip the string, means for moving said gripper to pull the string, an opening device for opening the gripper to release the string from the moving gripper, said spring and a portion of the opening device being carried with the moving gripper, and means for adjusting said opening device to predetermine the length of said portions of the string.

12. In a machineloi' attaching stri ng to envelops, the combination of washer pplying device and the washer applying means, adjusting said intermittent menses re? portions of a continuous string are secure to the envelops, a severing device for severing said portions of the string from a source of supply, an intermittent string pulling device whereby a portion of the string is pulled from the source of supply after each washer appl ing operation, said intermittent string pa 1- ing device comprising a movable gripper, means for closing said gripper to grip the string, means for oscillating isaid gripper to pull the string, an opening device for opening the gripper to release the string from the moving gripper, said opening de vice including a cam actuated operating member moving in a circular path with the gripper,

l mg means whereby a stationary cam 1n said circular path, and a support to which said stationary cam'is adjustably secured. 1

13. In a machine for attaching string to envelops, the combination of washer applying means whereby portions of the string are secured to the envelops, and a combined severing and pulling device compris' ing a movable carrier, a gripping device secured to said carrier, a string-cutting blade secured to said carrier, means for actuating said gripping device to grip the string, means for moving said carrier to pull the string at the same time moving said blade with the carrier to sever the string, and means for opening said gripping device to release the string therefrom.

14. In a machine for attaching string to euvelops, the combination of means for securing an eyelet and a washer to an envelop, said means comprising a riveting device whereby the string is secured with the eyelet and washer, a washer holding device adapted to hold a row of perforated washers, means for feeding the washers. one at a time from the delivery end of said row to said riveting device, an intermittent string-pulling device for pulling the string through said row of perforated washers, a string-cutting device associated with said pulling device to sever the string at 'a point near the washer while the latter is secured to the riveting device, and means for actuating said string-pulling device to pull the string from the source of supply, through the row of washers and away from the secured washer.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto afiix my signature.

CHARLES F. PFLANZE. 

